Tree ferns (Order: Cyatheales) are ancient; they appear in the fossil record dating to the Jurassic (200 mya to 146 mya). Surviving the calamitous event at the end of the Cretaceous, the eleven or so genera of modern tree ferns belong to two families—Cyatheaceae and Dicksoniaceae.

Cyathea are pantropical with somewhere around 500 species scattered about the globe, but very few of the species are in general cultivation. The lacy tree fern is easy to grow and, unlike usual fern care, the lacy prefers sunlight and loves a good feeding with urea and composted manures watered in well.

The stipe and rachis of the frond are covered in scales. The lacy tree fern is variable; the scales range from almost white to reddish-brown and may drop from the fronds or remain until the frond dies. Note these scales on the photographed crozier (the curled, undeveloped frond); this plant loses most of the scales by the time the frond is fully developed.

The scales serve as a deterrent to curious herbivores (and careless gardeners). They snap off readily and are extraordinarily irritating, especially when they get down the back of a shirt or under the sleeves. The sensation is not unlike clipped hairs under the collar after a haircut—magnified.

One cannot imagine that these scales could serve any purpose, but two uses are known. One was for comfort: the scales stuffed into a cloth casing are reported to provide a cool pillow in hot climates. The second was first-aid: carefully packed over a wound, the scales staunched bleeding.

(Compiled from: The Encyclopedia of Ferns, David L. Jones, Timber Press, Portland, OR, 1987; "Cyathea australis and Cyathea cooperi", Ali Heydon, Growing Native Plants, Australian National Botanic Garden, Department of the Environment and Heritage, Australian Government, 2003; and "Cyathea", Hortus Third, Staff L.H. Bailey Hortorium, NY State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Macmillan, NY, 1976)